JP2024055786A - Horological module actuatable at isolated moments, comprising automatic locking means - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a horological module actuatable at isolated moments, which can be stopped automatically after a predetermined operating period, while keeping reduced volume.SOLUTION: A horological module 1, e.g., an automaton or a ringing mechanism, includes a plate 2 and a mechanical device 10 that is capable of passing from an idle state, in which the mechanical device is immobile with respect to the plate 2, to an operating state, in which at least a part of the mechanical device is able to move with respect to the plate 2 when the mechanical device is actuated. The horological module 1 includes: a barrel 3 that provides energy to the mechanical device; a gear train 20 that can be actuated by the barrel 3; and means 30 that automatically locks the mechanical device. The automatic locking means 30 includes a rotary cam 4 and a movable body 7 cooperating with the rotary cam 4. The movable body 7 is able to move between a locking position, in which the mechanical device is in the idle state, and a retracted position, in which the mechanical device is in the operating state. The rotary cam 4 is mounted and secured to the barrel 3.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The field of the invention relates to clock modules capable of operation at sporadic moments, including means for automatically locking the operation of the module.

The invention relates more particularly to clock modules, such as animation or ringing mechanisms, which operate at sporadic moments and require a device for automatic stopping after a given operating time.

The present invention also relates to a clock movement for a watch, such as a wristwatch, that includes such a clock module.

In the field of watchmaking, there are mechanisms that are designed to be activated at a given time, or that can be activated on demand.

For example, in a ringing mechanism, the ringer is configured to emit a sound at a given time, for example in the case of an alarm function. Another type of ringing mechanism, called a mini-repeater mechanism, is a ringer that can be activated on demand to audibly indicate the time of day.

Other so-called animation mechanisms consist in animating an object, e.g. an automaton, with one or more movements. The animation of the automaton can be programmed at a given time or can be triggered on demand by an actuation means.

Generally, these ringing or animation mechanisms have a specific drive means, such as a barrel, arranged to provide the energy required for their operation. A gear train connected to the barrel activates the automaton or ringing.

The mechanism can be activated until the barrel is fully discharged. However, some mechanisms include an automatic stop means that stops the animation or ringing after a predetermined time, especially so that the mechanism can be activated multiple times with the same loaded barrel.

For example, US Pat. No. 5,999,333 describes an automatic alarm mechanism including means for locking the alarm mechanism. The automatic locking means includes a lever cooperating with a rotating cam, the cam including a notch for locking the lever and preventing the mechanism from operating. The alarm mechanism also includes means for releasing the lever to release the alarm mechanism. When the lever is released from the notch, the mechanism operates for one revolution of the cam until the lever is held by the notch. The cam is driven by a drive means to which the cam is connected.

However, such mechanisms are complex to implement and take up space.

Nos. 5,233,933 and 5,393,326 describe a wristwatch provided with an animation mechanism including an automaton (here a bird), the animation of which is driven by a barrel by means of a gear train.
However, these documents do not disclose any means for locking the mechanism before the barrel is fully discharged.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,460,339 European Patent No. 2880650 European Patent No. 2880498

In this context, the object of the present invention is to overcome all or part of the aforementioned drawbacks by proposing a clock module capable of operating at sporadic moments, which can be automatically stopped after a given operating time, whilst maintaining a reduced volume.

To this end, the present invention relates to a clock module for a clock movement, comprising a plate and a mechanical device, the mechanical device being capable of moving from an idle state in which the mechanical device does not move relative to the plate to an operational state in which at least a part of the mechanical device can move relative to the plate when the mechanical device is actuated, the clock module comprising a barrel for supplying energy to the mechanical device, the mechanical device comprising a gear train actuable by the barrel, the clock module further comprising means for automatically locking the mechanical device, the automatic locking means comprising a rotating cam and a movable body cooperating with the rotating cam, the movable body being capable of moving between a locked position in which the mechanical device is in an idle state and a retracted position in which the mechanical device is in an operational state.

The present invention is notable in that the rotating cam is fixedly attached to the barrel.

The clock mechanism according to the invention therefore offers an innovative technical solution for obtaining a miniaturized means of automatically locking a mechanical device.

The present invention saves space by coupling the rotating cam to the barrel. It also eliminates the need for a gear train between the barrel and the rotating cam.

According to certain embodiments of the present invention, the movable body is configured to automatically transition from the retracted position to the locked position after a predetermined time.

According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the rotating cam is provided with at least one notch and the movable body is provided with a finger-like projection, the finger-like projection being inserted into the notch of the rotating cam when the movable body is in the locked position and the finger-like projection being outside the notch when the movable body is in the retracted position.

According to a particular embodiment of the present invention, the predetermined time period corresponds to one rotation of the barrel.

According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the automatic locking means includes an intermediate lever carrying a movable body, the intermediate lever being movable about a first rotation pivot.

According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the machine includes a regulating pinion that is driven by the barrel as it rotates by a gear train, the regulating pinion being integrally attached to the regulating shaft.

According to a particular embodiment of the present invention, the automatic locking means is further configured to lock the regulating shaft simultaneously with locking the barrel.

According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the automatic locking means includes a brake lever cooperating with the restrictor shaft, the brake lever being movable about a second rotation pivot between a contact position in which the brake lever contacts the restrictor shaft to lock the restrictor shaft, and a spaced position from the restrictor shaft in which the brake lever allows rotation of the restrictor shaft.

According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the machine is in an idle position when the brake lever is in the contact position, and the machine is in an operating position when the brake lever is in the release position.

According to a particular embodiment of the present invention, the intermediate lever is configured to actuate the brake lever to transition the brake lever from the contact position to the release position, and the intermediate lever is mechanically connected to the brake lever.

According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the automatic locking means includes a first return spring acting on the brake lever to hold the brake lever in the contact position.

According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the automatic locking means includes an on-demand actuation means for moving the movable body from the locked position to the retracted position.

According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the actuation means includes a control lever that can rotate about a third rotation pivot between an initial position and a depressed position, the control lever actuating the intermediate lever when the control lever is in the depressed position.

According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the actuation means includes a second return spring acting on the control lever to return the control lever to its initial position.

According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the automatic locking means includes a ratchet wheel cooperating with a control lever.

According to certain embodiments of the present invention, the movable body remains in contact with the rotating cam during the operating state of the mechanical device.

The present invention also relates to a clock movement including such a clock module.

The present invention also relates to a watch including such a watch movement.

The objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the following drawings.
1 is a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a clock movement according to the invention; FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the embodiment of the timepiece movement of FIG. 1 with the gear train removed; FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of a portion of the clock module of FIG. 2, the clock module being in an idle state; 3 is a schematic plan view of a portion of the clock module of FIG. 2 at the moment when the mechanism 10 is started. 3 is a schematic plan view of a portion of the watch module of FIG. 2, the watch module being in an operational state; FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of a portion of the clock module of FIG. 2, the clock module transitioning from an operational state to an idle state;

In all figures, common elements are numbered the same unless otherwise specified.

As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the present invention relates to a watch module 1 for a watch movement.

The clock movement 1 comprises a plate 2 on which the parts of the module 1 are arranged. The clock module 1 notably comprises a mechanism 10 that can be activated at sporadic moments, for example a mechanism that animates an automaton in this embodiment. The mechanism 10 can go from an idle state, in which the mechanism 10 does not move relative to the plate 2, to a working state, in which the mechanism 10 can move relative to the plate 2 when activated.

The machine 10 includes a gear train 20 configured to drive, for example, an automaton. Thus, when the gear train 20 is activated, the machine 10 is in operation.

To regulate the movement of the automaton, the machine 10 includes a regulator provided with a regulating pinion 19 integrally mounted on a regulating shaft 15. The regulating shaft 15 is rotatable to allow rotation of the regulating pinion 19.

There are various types of regulators, some of which are frictional and others with magnetic brakes. Regulators, well known to those skilled in the art, prevent the shaft from rotating too quickly by holding the shaft by friction or by a magnetic brake. Thus, the rotational speed of the regulating shaft 15, and therefore of the regulating pinion 19, is controlled by the regulator.

To supply energy to the mechanism 10, in particular to the gear train 20, the timepiece module 1 includes a barrel 3. The barrel 3 includes a cylindrical case provided with outer circumferential teeth 6. The case is configured to include a barrel spring therein such that the case and the outer circumferential teeth 6 rotate about an axis of rotation.

The gear train 20 includes two gear movable devices arranged on a plate: a first movable device provided with a first toothed wheel 9 and a first toothed pinion 13 arranged on the first toothed wheel 9, and a second movable device provided with a second toothed wheel 11 and a second toothed pinion (not shown) arranged below the second toothed wheel 11. The gear train 20 further includes a third toothed wheel 12.

The first movable device, the second movable device and the third toothed wheel 12 are arranged in sequence. The first toothed wheel 9 is arranged partially below the barrel 3. The second toothed wheel 11 is arranged partially above the first toothed wheel 11, and the third toothed wheel 12 is arranged adjacent to the second toothed wheel 11.

The first pinion 13 meshes with the external teeth 6 of the barrel 3, and the second pinion meshes with the first gear wheel 9. The third toothed wheel 12 meshes with the second toothed wheel 11.

When the barrel 3 starts to rotate, it drives the first movable device, the second movable device and the third toothed wheel 12. Thus, the regulating pinion 19 and the regulating shaft 15 are driven by the barrel 3 as the barrel 3 rotates through the gear train 20, and the regulating pinion 19 meshes with the third toothed wheel 12.

The rotational speed of the gear train 20 is therefore adjusted by the regulator to control the rotation of the automaton and therefore the animation.

The clock module 1 includes means 30 for automatically locking the mechanism 10. For this purpose, the automatic locking means 30 are configured to lock the mechanism 10 in an idle state and to be able to keep the mechanism 10 in an operating state for a predefined time.

The automatic locking means 30 includes a rotating cam 4 that is arranged to rotate about an axis of rotation. The cam has a peripheral surface on which a notch 5 is provided.

According to the present invention, the rotating cam 4 is attached to the barrel 3 and is integral with the rotation of the barrel 3. The circular peripheral surface of the rotating cam 4 rests on the outer peripheral teeth 6 of the barrel 3. The notches 5 are formed on the peripheral surface and have a curved shape toward the inside of the rotating cam 4.

The automatic locking means 30 further comprises a movable body 7 provided with finger-like projections 26 extending towards the rotating cam 4. The movable body 7 has a substantially parallelepiped shape, the finger-like projections 26 extending laterally in the plane of the rotating cam 4.

The movable body 7 can move between a locked position in which the finger projection 26 is inserted into the notch 5 of the rotating cam 4 and a retracted position in which the movable body 7 is away from the rotating cam 4 so that the finger projection 26 remains outside the notch 5.

As shown in FIG. 5, during rotation of the rotating cam 4, the movable body 7 remains in a retracted position, and the ends of the fingers 26 of the movable body 7 are in contact with the circumferential surface of the rotating cam 4 while the rotating cam 4 rotates with the barrel 3. More precisely, the movable body 7 is subjected to a return force that holds the movable body 7 against the rotating cam 4. The source and effect of the return force will be described below in paragraphs 68 to 70.

Due to this return force, as shown in FIG. 6, when the finger-like projection 26 can be inserted into the notch 5, the movable body 7 automatically moves to the locked position. Therefore, as soon as the finger-like projection 26 faces the notch 5, the movable body 7 is no longer pushed into the retracted position by the circumferential surface of the rotating cam 4, the finger-like projection 26 can return to the locked position, and the finger-like projection 26 is inserted into the notch 5.

As long as the finger projections 26 cannot be inserted into the peripheral notches 5, the barrel 3 continues to rotate and the machine 10 remains in operation. This return force provides the automatic locking means 30.

In this embodiment, when the movable body 7 is in the retracted position, the barrel 3 rotates once until the notch 5 again faces the finger 26 of the movable body 7. This is because the rotating cam 4 includes a single notch 5, so the barrel 3 rotates a full revolution before the automatic locking means 30 stops the barrel 3 again.

In an alternative embodiment not shown, the rotating cam includes two or more notches, which stop the barrel and the mechanism at each notch. As a result, the mechanism operates only during the rotation of the barrel between two notches, i.e., for less than one rotation of the barrel.

To carry and move the movable body 7, the automatic locking means 30 includes an intermediate lever 8 arranged on the plate 2, and the movable body 7 is attached to a first end 27 of the intermediate lever 8. The intermediate lever 8 is attached to a rotation pivot 21 so that the position of the movable body 7 can be tilted and changed from a locked position to a retracted position.

The intermediate lever 8 has a curved shape including two substantially parallel curved arms at the front connected to a first end 27, the two arms delimiting an open space. The intermediate lever 8 has a third curved arm extending towards the rear and forming a second end 28 of the intermediate lever 8. The three arms are connected by an intermediate joint 29 in which the rotation pivot 21 is provided.

A return force acts on the second end 28 of the intermediate lever 8, keeping the movable body 7 in contact with the circumferential surface of the rotating cam 4 by the finger-like projection 26. Thus, when the peripheral notch 5 is in a position facing the finger-like projection 26, a spring effect is obtained which pushes the first end 27 of the intermediate lever 8 towards the rotating cam 4 to automatically return the movable body 7 to the locked position.

In this embodiment, the watch module 1 includes a brake lever 14 that contacts the regulating shaft 15 to prevent the regulating shaft 15 from rotating. The brake lever 14 includes a first end 31 provided with a brake that can contact the regulating shaft.

When the brake lever 14 is in the contact position, the machine 10 is in the idle position, and when the brake lever 14 is in the release position, the machine 10 is in the operating position.

In this embodiment, the mechanical device 10 is stopped when the brake lever 14 is in the contact position. In other words, the mechanical device 10 is stopped by locking the regulating shaft 19 with the brake lever 14. This is because when the regulating shaft 15 is locked, the regulating pinion 19 holds the third wheel 12, preventing the gear train 20 from rotating.

Preferably, when the finger 26 of the movable element 7 is inserted into the notch 5 of the rotating cam 4, the mechanism 10 is not stopped by the locking of the barrel 3. The only function of the movable element 7, the finger 26 and the notch 5 is to cause the locking of the mechanism 10 by tilting the brake lever 14 into contact with the limiting shaft 15 after a predetermined time.

In a modified embodiment, the automatic locking means 30 is configured to simultaneously lock the rotation of the barrel 3 and the rotation of the regulating shaft 15. Thus, when the finger-like projection 26 of the movable element 7 enters the notch 5 of the rotating cam 4, the barrel 3 is locked, and at the same time, the brake lever 14 is in contact with the regulating shaft 15, locking the regulating shaft 15.

The brake lever 14 is mounted to rotate about the second rotation pivot 22 so that it can tilt from a contact position with the regulating shaft 15 to a spaced position that allows the regulating shaft 15 to rotate freely. The brake lever 14 has a bent shape, and the second rotation pivot 22 is located at the curve of the bend.

The automatic locking means 30 also includes a first return spring 16 that, in the contact position, presses against a first end 31 of the brake lever 14 to hold the brake lever 14 in contact with the regulating shaft 15. The first return spring 16 includes a curved flexible blade with one side attached to the plate and the other side free, the free portion folded back on a first pin extending from the first end 31 of the brake lever 14.

For this purpose, the brake lever 14 includes a second end 32 against which the second end 28 of the intermediate lever 8 bears. The second end 32 of the brake lever 14 is provided with a pin 33 that is located in the plane of the intermediate lever 8. The pin of the brake lever 14 bears against the second end 28 of the intermediate lever 8.

Therefore, the pin 33 transmits the return force of the first return spring 16 to the intermediate lever 8, so that the intermediate lever 8 is in a position where the movable body 7 abuts against the rotating cam 4.

The watch module 1 further includes an on-demand actuating means for tilting the intermediate lever 8 and, consequently, the brake lever 14, such that the movable body 7 moves from the locked position to the retracted position and, at the same time, the regulating shaft 15 is released.

For this purpose, the actuation means includes a control lever 18 mounted for rotation about a third rotation pivot 23.

The control lever 18 includes a first end 35 that forms an actuation pusher. The control lever 18 has a bent shape including a short segment that includes the first end 35 and a longer segment between which the third rotation pivot 23 is located. The second end 36 of the control lever 18 is at the end of the longer segment.

The control lever 18 is partially mounted below the intermediate lever 8.

The control lever 18 further includes a hook 37 rotatably mounted to the second end 36 of the control lever 18. The hook 37 cooperates with a ratchet wheel 34 disposed proximate the second end 36 of the control lever 18.

The automatic locking means 30 includes a second return spring 17, similar to the first return spring 16, configured to compress the hook 37 to exert a force tending to engage the hook 37 with the ratchet wheel 34.

The control lever 18 is also connected to the intermediate lever 8 by a through hole 25 that surrounds the Bromstud 24 attached to the intermediate lever 8. Thus, when the control lever 18 rotates, it pulls the Bromstud 24 of the intermediate lever 8, thus tilting the intermediate lever 8 and moving the movable body 7 to the retracted position to release the barrel 3. At the same time, the intermediate lever 8 presses the brake lever 14 to release the restricting shaft 15, the restricting pinion 19, and thus the mechanism 10, which enters the operating position.

In FIG. 4, when a user presses the first end 35, the control lever 18 is actuated and rotates in a first direction. The control lever 18 pulls the intermediate lever 8 to rotate in a second direction opposite the first direction. The intermediate lever 8 then pushes the brake lever 14 in the first direction to release the restricting shaft 15 in the manner described above.

During operation of the machine 10 and rotation of the barrel 3, as shown in FIG. 5, when the user releases the end 35, the control lever 18 is returned to its initial position by the second return spring 16, while the intermediate lever 8 and the brake lever 14 remain in substantially the same position as long as the movable element 7 is in the retracted position.

If the user does not release the control lever 18, the automatic stop cannot be triggered and the barrel will continue to rotate and drive the gear train 20.

In FIG. 6, as soon as the finger-like projection 26 of the movable body 7 enters the notch 5 in the locked position, the intermediate lever 8 returns to its initial position. Since the brake lever 14 is no longer pressed by the intermediate lever 8, the brake lever 14 returns to its contact position with the regulating shaft 15 by the return force provided by the first return spring 16, locking the regulating pinion 19 and the gear train 20 of the machine 10.

In a simultaneous locking variant, the movable body 7 also locks the barrel 3 against rotation when the finger 26 is inserted into the notch 5 of the rotating cam 4.

Thus, the mechanism 10 of the watch module 1 is stopped after one revolution of the barrel 3, but the mechanism 10 can be made to operate again by actuating the control lever 18, as long as the barrel 3 has not been fully released.

The present invention also relates to a clock movement including a clock module 1 as described above and a clock including such a clock movement.

Naturally, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described with reference to the drawings, and modifications can be envisaged without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (17)

A clock module (1) for a clock movement, for example an automaton or ringing mechanism, comprising a plate (2) and a mechanical device (10), the mechanical device (10) being capable of moving from an idle state in which the mechanical device (10) is immobile relative to the plate (2) to an operating state in which at least a part of the mechanical device (10) can move relative to the plate (2) when the mechanical device (10) is actuated, the clock module (1) comprising a barrel (3) supplying energy to the mechanical device (10), the mechanical device (10) being actuated by the barrel (3), The clock module (1) further includes a gear train (20) operable by a gear wheel (3), the clock module (1) further includes a means (30) for automatically locking the mechanism (10), the automatic locking means (30) including a rotating cam (4) and a movable body (7) cooperating with the rotating cam (4), the movable body (7) being movable between a locked position in which the mechanism (10) is in the idle state and a retracted position in which the mechanism (10) is in the operating state, the rotating cam (4) being fixedly attached to the barrel (3). The clock movement according to claim 1, characterized in that the movable body (7) is configured to automatically move from the retracted position to the locked position after a predetermined time. The clock movement according to claim 1, characterized in that the rotating cam (4) is provided with at least one notch (5), the movable body (7) is provided with a finger-like projection (26), the finger-like projection (26) is inserted into the notch (5) of the rotating cam (4) when the movable body (7) is in the locked position, and the finger-like projection (26) is outside the notch (5) when the movable body (7) is in the retracted position. The watch module of claim 1, characterized in that the predetermined time corresponds to one rotation of the barrel (2). A timepiece module according to claim 1, characterized in that the automatic locking means (30) comprises an intermediate lever (8) carrying the movable body (7), the intermediate lever (8) being movable about a first rotation pivot (21). The watch module according to claim 5, characterized in that the mechanical device (10) includes a regulating pinion (19) driven by the barrel (3) when the barrel (3) is rotated by the gear train (20), and the regulating pinion (19) is fixedly attached to the regulating shaft (15). The clock module according to claim 6, characterized in that the automatic locking means (30) is configured to lock the regulating shaft (15) when the mechanical device (10) is in the idle state. The clock module according to claim 7, characterized in that the automatic locking means (30) comprises a brake lever (14) cooperating with the regulating shaft (15), the brake lever (14) being movable about a second rotation pivot (22) between a contact position in which the brake lever (14) contacts the regulating shaft (15) and locks the regulating shaft (15) and a position in which the brake lever (14) is away from the regulating shaft (15) allowing the regulating shaft (15) to rotate. The clock module according to claim 8, characterized in that the mechanism (10) is in the idle position when the brake lever (14) is in the contact position, and the mechanism (10) is in the operating position when the brake lever (14) is in the separated position. The watch module according to claim 9, characterized in that the intermediate lever (8) is configured to actuate the brake lever (14) to move the brake lever (14) from the contact position to the separated position, and the intermediate lever (8) is mechanically connected to the brake lever (14). The watch module according to claim 10, characterized in that the automatic locking means (30) includes a first return spring (16) acting on the brake lever (14) to hold the brake lever in the contact position. The clock module according to claim 1, characterized in that the automatic locking means (30) includes an on-demand actuation means for moving the movable body (7) from the locked position to the retracted position. The clock module according to claim 12, characterized in that the actuating means includes a control lever (18) that can rotate about a third rotation pivot (23) between an initial position and a pressed position, and that the control lever (18) actuates the intermediate lever (8) when the control lever (18) is in the pressed position. The clock module according to claim 13, characterized in that the actuation means includes a second return spring (16) acting on the control lever (18) to return the control lever (18) to its initial position. The watch module according to claim 1, characterized in that the movable body (7) remains in contact with the rotating cam (4) during rotation of the rotating cam (4) in the operating state of the mechanical device (10). A clock movement for a clock comprising a clock module (1) according to claim 1. A watch including a watch movement (1) according to claim 16.

Images